Immigration in Japan: Accepting Foreigners to Secure a Workforce
What is immigration, and what does it mean to be an immigrant?
In her book, Is Japan Unwelcoming to Refugees? (Keio University Press, 2024), author Fusako Yanase begins with a central question. That is, "How can people of different nationalities, languages, cultures, skin tones, and eye colors work together? How can we build a prosperous life in the same society?"
She explores how we might see not only Japanese citizens, but also foreign workers, international students, and even refugees as equal participants in a shared social fabric.
In this second installment of a series, she turns her focus to the special residency statuses that allow foreign nationals to work in Japan. Specifically, those are the Specified Skilled Worker, Technical Intern Training, and forthcoming Employment for Skill Development programs.
Second in the series.
Read the series, Immigration in Japan
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, as of October 2024, Japan employed 2,302,587 foreign workers. That represented an increase of 250,000 from 2023. The number of businesses hiring foreign labor also rose by 20,000, reaching a total of 340,000.
By nationality, Vietnamese workers made up the largest share at 570,000 (24.8%). Chinese workers ranked second with 400,000 (17.8%), followed by Filipinos with 240,000 (10.7%).
In April 2019, Japan upgraded its Immigration Bureau, formerly a division within the Ministry of Justice, into the Immigration Services Agency. This marked a significant policy shift toward welcoming more foreign workers. At the same time, it introduced a new visa category, the Specified Skilled Worker, which has now been in place for five years.
To foster better integration between foreign workers and local communities, the government launched a range of support initiatives. These include improvements to living and working conditions, Japanese language education, and other essential services. From FY2022 to FY2026, the government reviews and refines these measures annually as part of a long-term strategy to build a more inclusive and cohesive society.
Japan's Immigration Control Act currently defines 28 residency statuses. They cover everything from short-term stays such as tourism to international students, technical intern trainees, and spouses of Japanese nationals. Work-related categories for specialized and technical professions are also included.
In 2019, a 29th category — Specified Skilled Worker — was introduced as part of a broader government policy. This new status applies to 16 designated industries, including nursing care, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and food processing.
The Specified Skilled Worker visa was introduced to address labor shortages. It still requires applicants to demonstrate a certain level of expertise or technical skill through academic or work credentials. However, the requirements for Japanese language proficiency and job-specific knowledge have been somewhat relaxed.
In exchange, visa holders are entitled to a range of structured support measures. These are often referred to as "targeted support." They include orientation sessions on daily life in Japan, assistance with learning Japanese, help with complaints or consultations, and programs that encourage interaction between foreign residents and local communities.
Workers are also allowed to change jobs within the same industry and can access services at Hello Work, Japan's network of public employment offices.
The system is designed to prevent foreign workers from being left isolated or unsupported. Above all, helping them acquire a basic level of Japanese is considered essential for their success and integration. Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau
Officials introduced the Technical Intern Training program to support developing countries through skill and knowledge transfer. It was aimed at transferring skills and knowledge to workers from developing countries.
Today, approximately 410,000 foreign nationals reside in Japan under this system. However, many domestic employers have used it primarily to fill labor shortages with low-cost labor. As a result, many foreign workers face harassment, unpaid wages, and poor working conditions.
In March 2024, in response to these persistent problems, the government announced a complete overhaul of the program. The new framework shifts away from the original goal of foreign aid and instead focuses on training and securing foreign talent to support Japan's own industrial development. Set to launch by 2027, the revised system will be renamed Employment for Skill Development.
Under the new program, foreign workers will undergo a three-year training period aimed at achieving the skill level required for a Specified Skilled Worker (i) visa. This represents a significant policy pivot from international development assistance to domestic workforce strategy.
To ensure a smooth transition, the current technical intern system will continue to operate for roughly three years after the launch of Employment for Skill Development. During this period, both systems will run in parallel, giving employers and workers time to adjust. Authorities aim to complete the full transition by 2030.
Beyond visa-specific reforms, the Japanese government has introduced a broad set of measures to support the integration of foreign residents and strengthen the systems that serve them. These initiatives cover all legal foreign residents in Japan, not just Specified Skilled Workers, whether they are studying, working, or in training. Fusako Yanase (right) with JAPAN Forward Editor-in-Chief, Yasuo Naito (©JAPAN Forward)
Funded by the national government and implemented in cooperation with local authorities, these policies aim to promote coexistence and provide practical support across various aspects of daily life. It is important to note, however, that these support measures are not available to individuals residing in Japan without legal status.
Continues in Part 3: What to Know About Entry Limits
Author: Fusako Yanase
In addition to being an expert on immigration, Yanase is an award-winning author and former Honorary Chair of the Certified NPO Association for Aid and Relief, Japan .
このページを 日本語 で読む
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vancouver Sun
2 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
U.S. automakers say Trump's 15% tariff deal with Japan puts them at a disadvantage
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. automakers are concerned about President Donald Trump's agreement to tariff Japanese vehicles at 15 per cent, saying they will face steeper import taxes on steel, aluminum and parts than their competitors. 'We need to review all the details of the agreement, but this is a deal that will charge lower tariffs on Japanese autos with no U.S. content,' said Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council, which represents the Big 3 American automakers, General Motors, Ford and Jeep-maker Stellantis. Blunt said in an interview the U.S. companies and workers 'definitely are at a disadvantage' because they face a 50 per cent tariff on steel and aluminum and a 25 per cent tariff on parts and finished vehicles, with some exceptions for products covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that went into effect in 2020. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The domestic automaker reaction reveals the challenge of enforcing policies across the world economy, showing that for all of Trump's promises there can be genuine tradeoffs from policy choices that risk serious blowback in politically important states such as Michigan and Wisconsin, where automaking is both a source of income and of identity. Trump portrayed the trade framework as a major win after announcing it on Tuesday, saying it would add hundreds of thousands of jobs to the U.S. economy and open the Japanese economy in ways that could close a persistent trade imbalance. The agreement includes a 15 per cent tariff that replaces the 25 per cent import tax the Republican president had threatened to charge starting on Aug. 1. Japan would also put together $550 billion to invest in U.S. projects, the White House said. The framework with Japan will remove regulations that prevent American vehicles from being sold in that country, the White House has said, adding that it would be possible for vehicles built in Detroit to be shipped directly to Japan and ready to be sold. But Blunt said that foreign auto producers, including the U.S., Europe and South Korea, have just a 6 per cent share in Japan, raising skepticism that simply having the open market that the Trump administration says will exist in that country will be sufficient. 'Tough nut to crack, and I'd be very surprised if we see any meaningful market penetration in Japan,' Blunt said. Major Japanese automakers Toyota, Honda and Nissan did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the trade framework, nor did Autos Drive America or the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, organizations that also represent the industry. There is the possibility that the Japanese framework would give automakers and other countries grounds for pushing for changes in the Trump administration's tariffs regime. The president has previously said that flexibility in import tax negotiations is something he values. The USMCA is up for review next year. Ford, GM and Stellantis do 'have every right to be upset,' said Sam Fiorani, vice president at consultancy AutoForecast Solutions. But 'Honda, Toyota, and Nissan still import vehicles from Mexico and Canada, where the current levels of tariffs can be higher than those applied to Japanese imports. Most of the high-volume models from Japanese brands are already produced in North America.' Fiorani noted that among the few exceptions are the Toyota 4Runner, the Mazda CX-5 and the Subaru Forester, but most of the other imports fill niches that are too small to warrant production in the U.S. 'There will be negotiations between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico, and it will probably result in tariffs no higher than 15 per cent,' Fiorani added, 'but nobody seems to be in a hurry to negotiate around the last Trump administration's free trade agreement.' ___ St. John contributed from Detroit. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
2 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
U.S. automakers say Trump's 15% tariff deal with Japan puts them at a disadvantage
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. automakers are concerned about President Donald Trump's agreement to tariff Japanese vehicles at 15 per cent, saying they will face steeper import taxes on steel, aluminum and parts than their competitors. Article content 'We need to review all the details of the agreement, but this is a deal that will charge lower tariffs on Japanese autos with no U.S. content,' said Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council, which represents the Big 3 American automakers, General Motors, Ford and Jeep-maker Stellantis. Article content Article content Blunt said in an interview the U.S. companies and workers 'definitely are at a disadvantage' because they face a 50 per cent tariff on steel and aluminum and a 25 per cent tariff on parts and finished vehicles, with some exceptions for products covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that went into effect in 2020. Article content Article content The domestic automaker reaction reveals the challenge of enforcing policies across the world economy, showing that for all of Trump's promises there can be genuine tradeoffs from policy choices that risk serious blowback in politically important states such as Michigan and Wisconsin, where automaking is both a source of income and of identity. Article content Trump portrayed the trade framework as a major win after announcing it on Tuesday, saying it would add hundreds of thousands of jobs to the U.S. economy and open the Japanese economy in ways that could close a persistent trade imbalance. The agreement includes a 15 per cent tariff that replaces the 25 per cent import tax the Republican president had threatened to charge starting on Aug. 1. Japan would also put together $550 billion to invest in U.S. projects, the White House said. Article content Article content The framework with Japan will remove regulations that prevent American vehicles from being sold in that country, the White House has said, adding that it would be possible for vehicles built in Detroit to be shipped directly to Japan and ready to be sold. Article content Article content But Blunt said that foreign auto producers, including the U.S., Europe and South Korea, have just a 6 per cent share in Japan, raising skepticism that simply having the open market that the Trump administration says will exist in that country will be sufficient. Article content 'Tough nut to crack, and I'd be very surprised if we see any meaningful market penetration in Japan,' Blunt said. Article content Major Japanese automakers Toyota, Honda and Nissan did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the trade framework, nor did Autos Drive America or the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, organizations that also represent the industry.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
US automakers say Trump's 15% tariff deal with Japan puts them at a disadvantage
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. automakers are concerned about President Donald Trump's agreement to tariff Japanese vehicles at 15%, saying they will face steeper import taxes on steel, aluminum and parts than their competitors. 'We need to review all the details of the agreement, but this is a deal that will charge lower tariffs on Japanese autos with no U.S. content,' said Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council, which represents the Big 3 American automakers, General Motors, Ford and Jeep-maker Stellantis. Blunt said in an interview the U.S. companies and workers 'definitely are at a disadvantage' because they face a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum and a 25% tariff on parts and finished vehicles, with some exceptions for products covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that went into effect in 2020. The domestic automaker reaction reveals the challenge of enforcing policies across the world economy, showing that for all of Trump's promises there can be genuine tradeoffs from policy choices that risk serious blowback in politically important states such as Michigan and Wisconsin, where automaking is both a source of income and of identity. Trump portrayed the trade framework as a major win after announcing it on Tuesday, saying it would add hundreds of thousands of jobs to the U.S. economy and open the Japanese economy in ways that could close a persistent trade imbalance. The agreement includes a 15% tariff that replaces the 25% import tax the Republican president had threatened to charge starting on Aug. 1. Japan would also put together $550 billion to invest in U.S. projects, the White House said. The framework with Japan will remove regulations that prevent American vehicles from being sold in that country, the White House has said, adding that it would be possible for vehicles built in Detroit to be shipped directly to Japan and ready to be sold. But Blunt said that foreign auto producers, including the U.S., Europe and South Korea, have just a 6% share in Japan, raising skepticism that simply having the open market that the Trump administration says will exist in that country will be sufficient. 'Tough nut to crack, and I'd be very surprised if we see any meaningful market penetration in Japan,' Blunt said. Major Japanese automakers Toyota, Honda and Nissan did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the trade framework, nor did Autos Drive America or the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, organizations that also represent the industry. There is the possibility that the Japanese framework would give automakers and other countries grounds for pushing for changes in the Trump administration's tariffs regime. The president has previously said that flexibility in import tax negotiations is something he values. The USMCA is up for review next year. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Ford, GM and Stellantis do 'have every right to be upset,' said Sam Fiorani, vice president at consultancy AutoForecast Solutions. But 'Honda, Toyota, and Nissan still import vehicles from Mexico and Canada, where the current levels of tariffs can be higher than those applied to Japanese imports. Most of the high-volume models from Japanese brands are already produced in North America.' Fiorani noted that among the few exceptions are the Toyota 4Runner, the Mazda CX-5 and the Subaru Forester, but most of the other imports fill niches that are too small to warrant production in the U.S. 'There will be negotiations between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico, and it will probably result in tariffs no higher than 15%,' Fiorani added, 'but nobody seems to be in a hurry to negotiate around the last Trump administration's free trade agreement.' ___ St. John contributed from Detroit.
